For the 2017-2018 academic year, the Stanford Arts Institute will continue work to advance Stanford Arts Institute globally. The initiative seeks to deepen our collective understanding of the historical and future role of the arts and culture in cities through interdisciplinary research, dialogue, and creative interventions in urban contexts. Using the city as the stage for inquiry, Creative Cities poses questions about the role of art in reimagining the urban sphere, creative economies, the built environment, and more cohesive relationships between and across diverse groups.

There are two main programmatic elements to this project: our year-long fellowship, and the Creative Cities Working Group. The year-long fellowship invites two scholars to Stanford to conduct research in this area, teach one class each, and further the campus conversation about creative cities. This year’s fellows are Samuel Franklin and Gülgün Kayim.

The Creative Cities Working Group engages a broad array of Bay Area writers, thinkers, artists and curators who are engaging critical thought at the nexus of art and urban life. I am humbled to be part of this esteemed group for the 2017-2018 academic year, which includes a variety of contributions, including public speaking and guest lecturing.